Flat-knitting machine



July l5, 1930. E. o. NEBEL FLAT KNITTING MACHINE Filed Deo. 12, 192'7`12 Sheets-Sheet l `July 15, 1930.

E. O. NEBEL FLAT KNITTING MACHINE l2 Shee'ts-Sheet 3 Filed Dec. 12, 1927July 1 5, 1.930. E, Q NEBEL 1,770,859

FLAT KNITTING MACHINE `Fi1 ed Deo. 12, 1927 12 sheets-Sheet 4 ZP j July15, 1930. EQ o. NEBEI. 1,770,859

FLAT KNITTING MACHINE Filed Dec. 12, 1927' 12 sheets-sheet 5 July 15,1930. E. o. NEBEL 1,770,859

FLAT KNITTING MACHINE Filed Deo. 12, 1927 l2 Shets-Sheet 6 82 v 78 a"slik July l5, 1930. o. NEBEL I 1,770,859

FLAT KNITTING MACHINE Filed Deo. 12, 1927 lzsne'ts-sheet 7 I www@ Lm SLME. O. NEBEL I`luly l5, 1930.

FLAT KNITT ING MACHINE 12 Sheets-Sheet 8 Filed Dec. 12, 1927 July l5,1930. E. o. NEBEL FLAT KNITTING' MAHNE Filed Deo. l2, 1927 12Sheets-Sheet 9 E. O. NEBEL July 15, 1930.

FLAT KNITT ING MACHINE Filed Deo. l2, 1927 l2 Sheets-Sheet l0 July 15,1930.

E. O. NEBEL FLAT KNITTING MACHINE Filed Deo. l2, 1927 12 Sheets-Sheet llRAN.

July 15, 1930. E. o, NEBEL 1,770,859

FLAT KNITTING MACHINE Filed DSC. l2, 1927 l2 Sheets-Sheet 12 PatentedJuly 15, 1930 UNITED STATES ERNST OSGAB NEBEL, OF PHILADELPHIA,PENNSYLVANIA FLAT-KNITTING MACHINE Application led December 12, 1927.Serial No. 239,554.

This invention relates to flat knitting machines, such as those employedin the manufacture of full fashioned hosiery. One object of theinvention is to provide im roved 6 mechanism for formin a high spliceeel reinforce of desired des gn at each side of a stocking blank.

As well understood by those familiar with the art the heel reinforce isformed by inserting an additional thread where the reinforce is desired,therefore, each needle knitting in the reinforced areas carries twothreads, while the needles knitting in the non-reinforced areas eachcarry but one thread.

Ordinarily there is the same amount of yarn sunk around each of theneedles whether they are operating in a reinforced area or in thenon-reinforced area of the stocking blank,

: therefore, all the loops formed in any given course are the same size,and'when these loops are cast from the needles-the resulting stitches inthe reinforced areas are more tightly formed than those il;t the'non-reinforced areas, due to the double yarn in the reinforced stitcheswhich are of the same size as the single yarn stitches of thenon-reinforced areas.

This condition causes the reinforced areas to be harsh and stiff andhave a tendency to pucker. f

Another object of my invention is to provide mechanism whichincombination with the elements of a conventional type of full fashionedhosiery knitting machine and cooperating with my improved mechanism forshaping the heel reinforce will obviate the harsh and stiifenedcondition in the reinforced areas of the stocking, by causing more yarnto besunk around the needles operating in the said reinforced areas,Which produces longerloops therein and thus gives these areas the samesoftness and flexibility as the nonreinforced areas, and eliminates thepuckering of the reinforced areas. l

The details ofy my invention will be fully disclosed hereinafter,reference being had to the accompanying drawing, of which:

' Fig. lis a perspective view of the mechanism which co-operates withthe thread bars and other elements. of a full fashioned knitting machineto shape the heel reinforce;

, Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional elevation of the knitting machineshowing the reinforce shaping mechanism as applied thereto;

Fig. 3 is a front elevation of the structure shown in Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a plan view of a portion of the series of thread bars of themachine showing my improved mechanism which limits the movement inopposite directions of the two thread bars which carry the heelreinforcing threads; f

Fig.` 5 is a transverse sectional elevation taken on the line 5 5 ofFig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a longitudinal sectional elevation on the line 6 6, Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is a transverse sectional elevation on the line 7 7, Fig. 4;

Fig. 8 is an enlarged sectional elevation on the line 8 8, Fig. 6;

Fig. 9 is an enlargement of a portion of the 70 mechanism shown in Fig.6;

Fig. 10 is a view similar to Fig. 4, showing the thread bar limitingmechanism as being adaptedto limit vthe movement of a single thread barin both directions; v

Fig. 11 is a transverse sectional elevation through the machine, showingthe mechanism which effects a rocking movement of the needle bar tocause additional thread to be sunk around the needles in the reinforceareas, and 8 the mechanism which coordinateswith this rocking motion ofthe needle bar to confine the extra yarn sinking operation to thereinforced areas; Y

Fig. 12 is an enlargement of a portion of 85 the mechanism shown in Fig.11;

Fig. 13 is a front elevation of the mechanism shown in Fig. 12;

Fig. 14 is an enlarged side elevation of the co-ordinating mechanismshown in Fig. 11

Fig. 15 is a front elevation of the mechanism shown in Fig. 14;

Fig. 16 is a sectional plan view taken on the line 16-16, Fig. 14;

Fig. 17 is a sectional plan view taken on the line "1? 17 Fig. 14;

Fig. 18 is a sectional plan view taken on the line 18 18, Fig. 15;

Fig. 19 is a diagrammatic view of a stock- 100 ing blank illustratingone form of heel degFlig. 20 shows a variation within the scope of theinvention; and

Fig. 21 shows a modification of one detail of the invention.

A knitting machine of the type above noted comprises a plurality oftransversely extending frame members 1, 1 which are suitably connectedby longitudinally extending beams 2, 3, 4 and 5.

Rotatably mounted in suitable bearings on the frame of the machine (seeFig. 11) is the main cam shaft 9, the needle raising and lowering shalt10, the needle rocking shaft 11 and a stitch regulating shaft 12.

The needle raismg and lowering shaft 10 10 is provided with arms 13, onwhich the needle bars 14 are pivoted at 15. Secured to the needleraising shaft 10 is an arm 16 provided with a cam roller 17 (see Fig.12) adapted to ride on a cam 18 secured to the cam shaft 9. A spring 19maintains the roller 17 in operative engagement with the cam 18 at alltimes. By this mechanism the needle bar 14 is raised and lowered in theusual manner for the purposes well known to the art.

In addition to the raising and lowering of the needle bar 14, this baris rocked about the pivot 15, for purposes which are also well known tothe art, by the following mechanism. The needle roc rin shaft 11 isprovided with an arm 20 (see ig. 11) on which is rotatably mounted 'acam roller 21 which is moved into operative engagement with a cam 22, onthe cam shaft 9, by a spring 23. The arm 2()l is provided with alaterally extending pin 25. The needle bar 14 has a depending arm 26rigidly secured thereto, to the lower end of which is piyoted a link 27having notches 28 and 29, one of which is adapted to engage thelaterally extending pin 25 of the arm 20.

The coordinated oscillations of the shafts 10 and 11 function in amanner well known to the art to operate the needle bar 14, to form theusual loops or stitches of the fabric.

The machine is equipped with means for regulatingl the length of theloops comprising, toget er with the stitch regu ating shaft 12, a lever30 (see Fig. 11) secured to said shaft and provided with a laterallyextending pin 31 which engages the needle rocking lever 20. Theregulating shaft has a lever 32 loosely mounted thereon which isprovided with a roller 33. The stud 34 on which the roller 33 isrotatably mounted projects laterally to one side of the said lever 32for reasons hereinafter set forth. The roller 33 is engaged by a cam 35secured to the cam shaft 9 of the machine. A second lever 36 is rigidlysecured to the stitch regulating shaft 12 and is provided with aregulating screw 37 which engages the lever 32. By

turning the screw 37 the angular relationship between the levers 32 and36 may be varied.

When the needles are in position to have thread sunk around them theroller 33 is riding a concentric portion of the cam 35, the regulatingscrew 37 bears against the lever 32 and, therefore, the lever 3Gmaintains the regulating shaft in a definite position, the lever 30thereon is likewise held in a definite position and its pin 31, againstwhich the needle rocking lever 2O bears, holds said lever andconsequently the bank of needles in a definite position relative to thesinkers of the machine, thereby regulating the length of the loops ofthread sunk around the needles by the said sinkers. The roller 21carried by the needle rocking lever 20 at this time is held away fromits cooperating cam 22 on the cani shaft 9. Obviously by turning theregulating screw 37 the relative positions of the needles and sinkersmay be altered to any desired extent for altering the length of theloops.

The machine is provided with the usual series of thread bars 40 whichare slidably mounted in suitable brackets 41 (see Fig. 2), secured tothe longitudinal beam 5, and are longitudinally reciprocated by theusual type of friction box (not shown) which is operated in the usualmanner by the usual Coulier motion of the machine. Each of the threadbars carries a finger 42 (see Fig. 11) which 1s adapted to lay a threadbetween the shoulders 43 of the sinkers 44 and the needles 45 carried bythe needle bar 14.

Alternate sinkers, as is well known to the art, are operated by jacks 49pivotally mounted on the longitudinal beam 5. The lacks 49 are operatedby the usual longitudina ly slidable cam 50, which in turn is operatedby the Coulier motion of the machine in the usual manner. Each sinker 44is provided with an upwardly projecting lug 51 which is adapted to beengaged by the walls of a groove 52 formed in a longitudinally extendingbar 53. The bar 53 receives a lateral or transverse motion and a slightvertical motion by mechanism not shown but well known to the art. As iswell known to the art, there is a sinker between each adjacent pair ofneedles.

In the normal operation of the machine, the bank of needles is held in asubstantially vertical position as above described to receive thethreads, the thread bars 40 are moved longitudinally of the bank ofneedles and the thread carrying fingers 42 lay their threads between theshoulders 43 of the sinkers 44 and the needles 45. At the same time thesinker operating cam 50 successively engages the jacks 49 and moves thealternate sinkers 44, with which they cooperate, forward to sink yarninto the alternate spaces between adjacent needles, 'after which the bar53 advances, carrying the sinkers which the spaces between the needlesnot previously` having thread sunk therein. This movement of the bar 53produces a tension on the thread which causes the jack operated sinkers44 to retreat to a point where the rear edge of their lugs 51 is engagedby the rear wall of the groove 52 therein. As the advance of the bar 53continues, all the sinkers 44 are then advanced an equal distance andthereby equally divide the thread between the entire series of needlesso that each needle will receive a like tively, in which are mounted ad]amount of yarn to form loops of uniform length, whereupon the cams 19and 22 coordinately operate to effect the stitch forming operations ofthe needle bar 14, in the well known manner.

The travel of -the needle bars 40 ordinarily is controlled by a wellknown screw and nut mechanism at the opposite ends of the ma# chine (notshown) for producing the selvage edges of the stocking blank. In thedrawings of this application the thread bar 40a of the series carriesthe thread which produces the body of the blank and the travel of thisbar in both directions is controlled in the manner and by the mechanismjust described.

The thread bars 40b and 40c of the series of bars 40 carry the threadswhich form the solid portions of the heel reinforce at the respectivesides of the blankand lay the additional reinforcing thread againstcertain of the needles adjacent the opposite selvag'e edges of the blankbeing knitted. The travel of each of these bars 40h and 40 toward therespective selvage edges of the blank is controlled in the 'manner justdescribed in connection with the thread bar 40which carries the bodythread, however, the travel of the reinforce thread bars 40h and 40c ina direction toward the center of the stocking blank is controlled bymechanism forming one feature of my invention which will here bedescribed in detail (see Figs. 1 to 10).

Secured to the longitudinal beam 5, in the present instance, arebrackets 60 which support a fixed frame 61. The frame 61 (see Figs. 1and 2) extends parallel to the thread bars 40 .and occupies a positionadjacent thereto. In the frame 61 is slidably mounted a pair of stopbars 62 and 63 provided with laterally extending arms 64 and 65respectively. The arms 64 and 65 are operatively connected to thereinforcing thread bars 40b and 40c respectively. The stop bars 62 and63 are provided with lugs 66 and 67, respec- V 'ustable stop screws 68and 69 respectively. Secured to the frame 61 intermediate the stopscrews 68 and 69 is a bearing 70 (see Figs. 6 and 7) in which is secureda short shaft 7l. Rotatably mounted on the shaft 71 at the respectiveopposite sides of the bearing 70 are ratchet wheels 7 2 and 7 3. On theouter sides of the ratchet wheels 72 and 7 3 are secured sprocket wheels74 and 75 respectively,

whichare adapted to receive pattern chains 76 and 77.

The pattern chains 76 and 77 each compriseI a plurality of side links78, 78 and 79, 7 9 which are spaced laterally by means of triangularlyshaped blocks 80 which ride in similarly shaped cavities formed betweenthe teeth of the sprocket wheels 74, (see Figs. 8 and 9). The chainpintles 81 pass through the side links 78, theintermediate spacer blockand opposite side links 79 and bind the whole thereof together. Eachpattern chain is provided with a plurality of stop blocks 82 which areremovably secured to the spacer blocks 80 by screws 83.

As above described, the thread bars are reciprocated by the usualCoulier motion of the machine and their travel toward the selvage edgesof the stocking blank is controlled by the usual screw and nut mechanismat the opposite ends of the machine. The travel of the reinforcingthread bars 40b and 40c toward the center of the stocking blank iscontrolled by the stop blocks 82 above noted.

The stop blocks 82, as seen in Fig. 4, are of various lengths and limitthe successive inner movements of the reinforce thread bars stopping thethread carrying fingers 42 at difierent points relative to the selvageedge of the stocking blank. By this means the inner line of thereinforce in the heel o f the blank can be made to any design desired.In the drawings, the stop blocks gradually decrease in lengthfor thepurpose of forming the solid portion of the heel reinforce shown inFigs. 19 and 20. `It will be noted that inner ends of the stop blocks 82are in alignment and abut against the sides of the respective ratchetwheels 74 and 75 which take the shock of the impact between the stopscrews 68, 69 and the pattern stop blocks 82 and prevent any endwisemovement of the said blocks when engaged by the stop screws, thus theinner line of the reinforce is accurately controlled.

-The outer turns of the pattern chains pass around sprocket wheels 84(see Fig. 1) which are rotatably mounted on a shortshaft 84a secured ina bearing formed on the outer end of an-extension 85 projecting from thebearing 70. Obviously the chains 76 and 77 may be of any desired length,and the outer turns thereof may be carried by any suitable means such asrollers suspended from any suitable support located above the machine asillustrated in Fig. 21, thus, the scope of design is practicallyunlimited as any desired number of stop blocks of different lengths maybe carried by the pattern chains.

The ratchet wheels 74 and 75 and consequently the pattern chains 7 6 and77 are moved alternately in intermittent steps one block at a time by apawl 86 (see Figs. 1 and 3), which is provided with a head 87. The

` head 87 is provided with a rod 88 which passes through an openingformed in one end of a. lever 89. The rod 88 acts as a means forpivotally connecting the pawl 86 to the lever 89 and permits a relativelateral movement between these elements. The rod 88 is rigidly securedat its opposite ends in lugs 87 87a formed on the head 87 and the lever89 slides on the rod 88 between the said lugs. The lever 89 is pivotedat 90 to a bracket 91 secured to the longitudinal frame member 3 of themachine. The lever 89 is also provided with a roller 92 which engages acam 93 on the cam shaft 9. A spring 94 (Fig. 2) keeps the pawl 86 incontact with eitherone or the other of the ratchet wheels 74, 75. Thepawl 86 engages first one of the ratchet wheels and then the other andor the purpose of shifting the said pawl from one to the other of theratchet wheels, the head 87 of said pawl is provided Y with a lug 95which enters a slot 96 formed in a plate 97 secured to a reciprocatingbar 98 which is slidably supported in bearings 99 secured to the frameof the machine. The length of the pivot rod 88 in the pawl head 87permits this lateral shifting of the pawl 86.

The pawl shifting bar 98 is pivotally connected to one arm 100 of theCoulier motion as shown in Fig. 1, and as this lever is rocked b theCoulier cam 101 the pawl shifting ar 98 is reciprocated, and therebyshifts the pawl 86 out of engagement with one of the ratchet wheels andinto engagement with the other thereof. A roller 102 (see Fig. 2) guidesthe upper end of the pawl 86 in its movement from one to the other ofthe ratchet wheels. The roller 102 is rotatably mounted in a stud 103secured in the eX- tension 85 of the bearing 70 which supports theratchet wheels 74, 75. The ratchet wheels and their respective patternchains are moved alterantely for the reason that the movement of thechains must be effected while the stop screws 68 and 69 are away fromthe respective pattern chains with which they cooperate, and inoperation one or the other of these stop screws is in engagement withits respective pattern chain when the pawl 86 is operated, therefore,the chain not engaged by a stop screw is moved.

A detent 105 is provided for each of the ratchet wheels 74, (see Fig. 2)and comprises a lever 106 pivoted to an extension 107 of the bearing 70.The levers 106 are each provided with a laterally rejecting pin 108which engages the teeth o the ratchet wheel with which it cooperates, aspring 109 maintaining the contact therebetween and preventing anyaccidental rotation of the ratchet wheel and a corresponding movement ofthe pattern chain controlled thereby.

The pawl 86 is thrown into or out of operation at desired times by thefollowing mechanism (see Figs. 1, 2 and 3). On the outer end of thelever 89 which operates the pawl 86 is pivotally mounted a depending arm110 havlng a shoulder 111 formed adjacent its lower end and which 7sadapted to engage a rojection 112 on the m 2. The arm 110 1s connectedby a link 113 to one arm 114 of a bell-crank lever which is pivoted at115 to a bracket 116 secured to the beam 2. A second arm 117 of thisbell-crank lever is adapted to be engaged by a pin 119 projectinglaterall from a lever 120 pivoted at 121 to the brac et 116. The lever120 is provided with a lug 122 which is adapted to be engaged by buttons123 on an endless chain 124. At one of its ends the said chain 124passes around a s rocket wheel 125 which is rotatably mounte on a stud126 secured to the bracket 116. The opposite end of the chain 124 passesaround an idler sprocket 127 rotatably mounted in a yoke 128 having astem 129 which passes through a bearing 130 carried by a bracket 131secured to the beam 2. The stem 129 is adjustable within the bearing130, and is provided with nuts 132 and 133 by means of which the chain124 is adjusted and maintained in a taut condition.

Secured to the sprocket 125 is a ratchet wheel 135, which is engaged bya pawl 136 pivotally mounted at 13 to a lever 138. The said lever 138 ispivoted at 139 to the bracket 116. A. spring 140 maintains the pawl 136in operative engagement with the teeth of the ratchet wheel 135 and aslring 141 maintains the arm 117 of the ell-cank lever 114-117 inoperative engagement with the pin 119 on the lever 120.

On the free end of the lever 138 is pivotally mounted one end of a link142, the opposite end of which is pivotall attached to the free end of alever 143 whic is pivotally mounted at 144 on a bracket 145 secured tothe beam 3. The lever 143 is provided with a roller 146 which engages acam 147 on the main camshaft 9 of the machine. As the cam shaft 9 isrotated, the cam 147 rocks the lever 143 which, through the link 142,rocks the lever 138, and through the pawl 136 the ratchet wheel 135 andsprocket wheel 125 are rotated, and as the chain 124 advances thebuttons 123 thereon successively engage the lug 122 of the lever 120.

Normally t e shoulder 111 of the arm 110 lies in engagement with theupper side of the projection 112 and the roller 92 on the lever 89 isheld in the position to which it is moved by the high portion 93IIL ofthe cam 93, preventing the said arm 89 from being rocked about its pivotand consequently preventing the pawl 86 from operating either of theratchet wheels 72 or 73. When the bell-crank lever 114-117 is operated,in a manner above noted, the shoulder 111 of the arm 110 is moved fromover the projection 112 and when the low portion 93b of the cam 93 comesunder the roller 92, the roller 92 follows into the said low portion 93hof the cam and the lever 89 is thereby permitted to be rocked about itspivot 90 by means of a spring 89a, the pawl 86 is thereby moved upwardlyover the teeth o'f the ratchet wheel 72 or 73, as

the case may be, -into engagement with the next successive tooththereof. As the high portion 93a of the cam 93 comes under the roller 92the lever 89 is rocked in the opposite direction pulling the pawl 86downwardly, and consequently rotating the ratchet wheel with which itengages. In this manner the stop blocks 82 are-successively moved intoalignment with the respective stop screws 68 and 69 and the movements ofthe thread bars 40h, 40c toward the center of the stocking blank areregulated in a manner to form the inner line of the heel reinforce ateach side of the stocking blank.

In order to prevent the above mentioned harshness and puckering of thesolid reinforced heel portions of the stocking blank, the needle bar 14with the needles 45 thereon is rocked slightly about the pivot 15 towardthe sinkers 44 see Fig. v11), during the time the sinkers are eingadvanced by the cam toward those of the needles on which the reinforcedstitches of the stocking blank are to be formed. During the time inwhich the sinkers intermediate the reinforced portions of the stockingblank are being operated, the needles 45 are returned to their.' normalthread receiving positions. `This slight momentary rockin movement ofthe needles 45 toward the sinkers 44 must be regulated in accordancewithl the extent of the reinforced area as produced in each successivecourse of stitches being formed. This regulation of the same momentaryrocking motion of the needles is controlled by the following mechanismThe above mentioned laterally extending pin 34 on the lever 32, which ismounted on the stitch regulating shaft 13, is engaged by an adjustableprojection 150 (see Fig. 12 carried by a lever 151 pivoted at 152 to asecond lever 153, this secondlever 153 being pivoted at 154 to a bracket155 secured to the beam 3. On the free end of the lever 153 is pivotallyattached toone end of a link 156, the opposite end of which is pivotallyconnected at 157 to the free end of an adjustable lever 158. Theadjustable lever 158 is pivoted at 159 to a bracket 160 'secured to thebeam 2. The adjustable lever 158 is provided with a pair of relativelymovable projections 161 and 162 which normally lie in positionsconcentrically disposed with respect to the center of the cam shaft 9 bya projection 156a adjustably mounted on the rod 156 and engaging a shaft8 mounted in the frames 1, 1 of the machine.

The cam shaft 9 is provided with roller carriers 163 and 164 on whichare respectively and rotatably mounted rollers` 165 and 166 cessivelyengage the said movable projections j 161 and 162, the lever 158 isrocked about its pivot 159 which. through the link 156, rocks the lever153 aboutits pivot and thereby moves the arm 151 longitudinally. Theprojection 150 on said arm 151, being in engagement with thelaterallyextending pin 34, rocks the lever 32, which through the screw37 and lever 36, rocks the stitch `regulating shaft 12. The lever 30secured to the said stitch regulating shaft 12 is consequently rocked,and the pin 31 thereon effects a rocking of the lever 2O which issecured to the needle rocking shaft 11. Rocking of the lever 20 effectsa corresponding rocking of the needle bar 14 around its pivot 15 throughthe link 27 and the depending arm 26 of the needle bar 14. The needles45 are therebv rocked toward the sinkers 44 just as these sinkers areadvanced towardv the needles bv the longitudinal'movement of the cam 50causing the cam to lengage the sinker jacks 49.

The face of each of the tions 161 and 162 is of such a length that whilethe respective rollers 165, -166 are in engagement with these faces the`needles 45 are held in their advanced position for a period of timeequalto that consumed bythe sinker operating cam 50 in moving relativeto the sinkers 44 a distance equal to the greatest width of thereinforced areas at each side of the saidstocking blank. j

The adjustable lever 158 comprises two sections 170 and 171 (see Figs.14l and 15) Whichare pivotally secured together at172.\

The upper section 171 of the lever 158 is provided with a laterallyextending segmental flange 176 (see Figs. 14 and 16) providing a guidefor the movable projections 161 and 162. A pair of slots 177 and 178 areformed in thesegmental flange 176. The

movable extensions 161 and 162 are provided with tongues 179 and 180respectively, which project through the slots 177 and 178. To

the tongues 17 9 and 180 are respectively secured plates 181 and 182,which engage the side of the flange 176 opposite to that engaged by themovable projections 161 and 162 1 for movably securingthe saidprojections t0 the said segmental flange.

- The section 171 of the lever 158 has a depending portion 173 whichlies intermediate a pair of lugs 174-174 (see Fig. 14) formed integralwith the section 170 of said lever. Adjusting screws 175 are positionedin the -lugs 174, and are adapted to engage the depending portion 17 3of the upper section 171 of the lever in order that the said uppersection 171 of the lever may be adjusted to and maintained in .aposition wherein the segmental guide 17 6 for the movable blocksA 161,

162 is concentric with the center of rotation of the cam shaft 9.

Gear segments 183 and 184 are secured to the plates 181 and 182,respectively, and mesh with gear wheels 185 and 186 respectively (seeFig. 14). The gears 185 and 186 are secured to short shafts 187 and 188rotatably mounted in bearings 189 and 190 formed on the section 171 ofthe lever 158. Also secured to the shafts 187 and188 is a pair ofintermeshing gear wheels 191 and 192 (see Fig. 15). The shaft 188 isalso provided with a worin wheel 193 which meshes with a worm 194rotatably mounted on a substantially vertically extending shaft 195which is nonrotatably supported in a bearin 196. The bearing 196 isrotatably mounte on a stud 197 rigidly supported in a bearing 198 formedintegral with the upper section 171 of the lever 158. Rotation of theshaft 195 is prevented by means of a set screw 195'l tapped into thebearing 196.

Rigidly attached to the worm 194 and rotatable therewith is a ratchetwheel 199 (see Fig. 18) which is adapted to be enga ed by a pawl 200secured to the upper end o a short shaft 201 which is rotatably mountedin 'a bearing 202 formed on a swinging bracket 203. The swinging bracket203 is provided with a hub 204 (see Fig. 15) rotatably mounte'd on thevertical shaft 195, and supported thereon by a collar 205 rigidlysecured to the lower end of the shaft 195. The swinging bracket 203 isprovided with a strikin plate 206 adapted to be engaged by the rol er207 rotatably mounted on the needle raising lever 16. The pawl 200 ismaintained in operative engagement with the ratchet wheel 199, by aspring 200".

To the lower end of the short shaft 201 is secured a hook 208 which isadapted to engage a'shoulder 209 formed on the collar 205 for thepurposes hereinafter described. The bearing 196, in which the shaft 195is secured, is adapted to pivot around the stud 197 whereby the worm 194may be removed from operative engagement with the worm wheel 193, butthe said shaft and said worm wheel will be automatically returned totheir normal positions by means of a spring 210 (see Fig. 12) whichnormally maintains the said shaft 195 in the base of a notch 211 formedin the outer end of a finger 212 which is secured to the section 171 ofthe lever 158. A

hook 213 is also pivotally mounted on a stud 197 for purposeshereinafter set forth. A

'j' During'the knitting of the leg portion of the 'stocking blank,'thehook 214 engages the needle raising'shaft 11, thereby maintaining theprojection 150 of the arm 151 in a position above and out of engagementwith the laterally extending pin 34 of the lever 32 of the' stitch'regulating shaft 12.- The hook 213 llar 205.

As is well known to those familiar with the knitting of full fashionedhosier there are more needles and cooperating sin ers in each head ofthe machine than are ordinarily required for the knitting of a stockinblank. The width of the blank being knitte is controlled by the travelof the thread laying fingers across the needle blank. The blank is ormedon the needles in the center of the needle blank and, therefore, thereare extra needles and sinkers at each side of the blank which ordinarilyare not in use.

When employing in invention in the knitting of a stocking blan ,the legportion of the blank is formed in the ordinary manner and when the pointis reachedin the knittin of the stocking blank in which it is desire tostart the knitting of the reinforced areas the hooks 208, 213 and 214are released permitting the elements controlled thereby to -assume theosition substantially as` shown in Fi 12 e shaft 195 is swung on thepivot 19g until the worm 194 is out of mesh with the worm wheel 193whereupon the worm wheel is turned b hand in a direction to cause themovable projection 161 to assume a position at the upper end of the slot177 in the segmental flange 176 of the lever 158, and the movableprojection 162 assumes the position i.if the lower end of the slot 178of the said an e.

T e knitting of the reinforced areas is started at the highest pointthereof above the heel tabs, and in the resent instance increases inwidth progressively until the eatest width of these areas is attainedwhich is at the bases of the heel tabs of the stocking blank. Therefore,at the start of the knitting of the reinforced areas the pattern chains76 and 77 aremoved until the longest of the stop blocks 82 thereon arein alignment with the stop screws 68 and 69 of the sto bars 62 and 63.By this means the thread ars 40 and 40 receive the least possiblemovement inward from the selvage edges of the stockin blank. The movableprojections 161 and 162 eing at the opposite ends of the respectiveslots 177,

17 8 in the segmental guide 176 on thelever' 158, means that at thebeginning of the formation of the hi hest oint of the reinforced areasthe movab e rojectionsll and 162 are so positioned relative to eachother and with respect to the rollers 165 and 166 that the sipplementalrocking of the needles thereby a ects cnly the sinking of yarn aroundthe needles immediately adjacent the selvage lill edges of the stockingblank in conformity with the travel of the thread bars 40b and 40.

In operation, as the cam shaft 9 rotates, the rollers 165 and 166 engagethe movable projections 161 and 162 respectively and successively andthereby rock the needle bar 14 .and the needles 45 thereon at the sametime as the sinker cam is passing the sinkers operating in thereinforced-areas of thestocking ad# jacent the selvage edges of theblank and those of the unused sinkers which lie outside and immediatelyadjacent the selvage ed es of the stocking blank being knitted. At t estart of the lmitting of the reinforced areas, when the sinker operatingcam 50 is operating the sinker at one selvage of the stocking blank, theroller 165, having previously engaged the movable projection 161 androcked the needle bar 14, is just riding oii' the point 161"L of thesaid movable projection 161. The sinker cam 50 passes on across thewidth of the blank, and just after it engages the sinker adjacent theopposite selvage edge of the stocking blank the roller 166 engages thepoint 162n of the movable projection 162, therebyrocking the needle barin the manner above noted and maintaining the said needle bar in thisposition until the roller 166 rides off the point 162b of the Saidmovable projection 162. It will here be noted that the roller 165engages the oint 161b of the movable projection 161 be ore the sinkercam 50 arrives at' a point adjacent the rst mentioned selvage of thestocking blank and passes off the point 161a of the said movableprojection 161 just as the sinker cam 50 arrives at a point adjacent theselvage as above described, after which the needle bar assumes itsnormal position while the sinker cam 50 travels across the entire widthof the stocking blank to a point adjacent the opposite selvage thereof,at which time the roller 166 engages the point 162a of the movableprojection 162 and again rocks the needle bar 14 and maintains it in therocked position until the roller 166 rides of the point 162b of saidmovable projection.

As the needle raising and lowering arm 16 is moved outwardly by itsoperating cam 18, the roller 207 engages the plate 206 on the swingingbracket 203 swinging said bracket on its pivot 195 and thereby causingthe pawl 200 to engage and rotate the ratchet wheel199. Rotation of theratchet wheel 199 causes the wormwheel 194 to be rotated a like amountwhich effects a partial rotation of the worm wheel 193, and a likerotation of the shaft 188 to which it is secured. Rotation of the shaft188 causes a like rotation of the gear 192. The gear 192 rotates thegear wheel 190, and consequently the shaft 187 is rotated. Equalrotation of the shafts 187 and 188 causes a like rotation of the gears185 and 186 secured thereto, and a consequent movement of the segmentalracks 183 and 184 relative to the segmental flange 176 of the lever 158.By this means the movable pro'- jections 161 and 162 are caused toadvance toward each other and the points 161 and 162 respectively aremoved to such positions that on the next revolution of the shaft 9 theroller 165 will not ride olf the point 161'* of the projection 161 torelease the needle bar 14 until the sinker cam 50 has moved a distancesubstantially the width of two needles inward from the adjacent selvageedge of the blank, and the roller 166 will engage the point 162 of themovable projection 162 when the said sinker cam has arrived at a pointsubstantiall equal to the width of two needles inward iii-om theopposite selvage edge of the stocking blank.

Each time a course of stitches is formed the mechanism just describedoperates to advance the points 161L and 162* of the said movableprojections toward each other. Thus the needle bar on each successivecourse is released from the roller 165 a little later, `and the points162 of the movable projection 162 is engaged by the roller 166 a littleearlier than on the previously formed course. The pawl 86 at the sametime, and for each successive course knitted, advances the patternchains 72 and 73 to bring the shorter stop plates 82 into alignment withthe stop screws 68 and 69 permitting the thread laying fingers 42 on thethread bars 40b and 40 to travel a progressively increasing distancetoward the center of the stocking blank and awayr from the respectiveselvage edges thereof. Therefore, as the knitting of the stocking blankprogresses land the thread bars 40b and 40c which carry the reinforcingthreads are stopped at points closer together, the reinforced areas areprogressively increased in width, and at the same time the movableprojections 161 and -162 are advanced toward each other in accordancewith the increase in the width of the reinforced area on eachsuccessively formed course of stitches, and the needle bar ismomentarily rocked as above described to increase the length of thestitches formed in the reinforced areas as controlled by the patternchains 76 and 77.

The mechanism above described is employed in producing the solid portionof the heel reinforce illustrated in Figs. 19 and 20.

In addition to the solid reinforced areas, by a slight variation of themechanism which controls the inner line of the reinforce area, I mayproduce the design illustrated at in Fig. 19. This variation of thepattern mechanism is clearly illustrated in Fig. 10, and comprisesmerely the substitution of a single stop bar 62a for the pair of stopbars 62 and 63 illustrated in Fig. 4. The single stop bar 62a isprovided with a pair of lugs 66a and 67 which in turn arev provided withstop screws 68a and 69 respectively. In this case a single thread bar40d is provided for carrying the pair of threads for the production ofthe designs :z2-:v shown in Fig. 19. In this case the movement of thethread bar 40l is limited in each of its directions of reciprocatorytravel by pattern chains 76-77, and the single stop bar 62'l is providedwith a single projecting arm 64" which is operatively connected to thestop bar ld only. The

m operation of the device shown in Fig. 10 is accomplished in exactlythe same manner and by mechanism the same as that illustrated foroperating the device shown in Fig. 4. The device shown in Fig. 10 isemployed in addltion to the device shown in Fig. 4, for producing thedesigns --m on the stocking blank in addition to the solid portion ofthe heel reinforce.

Fi illustrates a variation of the heel 20 in w ich the additionaldesigns i1-w1 are each produced by a separate unit such as thatillustrated in Fig. 10. In this case a separate thread bar is employedfor producing each of the designs m1, and the movement of each of thesethread bars in both directions is controlled by a device such as thatillustrated in Fig. 10.

It will here be noted that the mechanism which lengthens the stitch inthe solid portions of lthe reinforced areas does not alter the length ofstitch in the supplemental design areas. However, these supplementaldesign areas are of such slight proportions that puckering or harshnessin the fabric is not perceptible. These variations are illustrated forthe purpose of showing that by a slight change in the mechanismwhichactually c'ontrols the outline of the heel reinforce proper, thismechanism can be utilized to produce va- 40 rious supplemental designson the stocking in addition to the solid heel. reinforce.

From the above description, it will be apparent that the structureillustrated in Fig. 4 controls the thread bars which carry thereinforcing threads in a manner to-produce the solid reinforced areassuch as illustrated in Figs. 19 and 20, and the mechanism illustrated inFig. 12 coordinately functions therewith to rock the needle bar at suchtime in as the sinker cam is advancing the sinkers 44, which areoperating within these reinforced areas, to lengthen the stitchestherein for the purpose above noted.

I claim:

u 1. In combination, with a ilat knitting machine having a rotary shaft,a bank of needles, a bank of sinkers adjacent said needles, means forlaying a thread between the needles and the sinkers, means for holdingsaid needles in a predetermined position, a sinker cam for moving saidsinkers toward said need les to form said thread into loops of uniformlength between adjacent needles while in said predetermined position; alever pivotally mounted adjacent said shaft and adapted to beoperatively connected to said needle holding means, a pair of relativelyspaced projections on said lever, a palr of relatively spaced elementson said shaft adapted to engage said projections successively tomove'said needles toward said sinkers as the said sinker cam isadvancing predetermined groups of said sinkers toward said needles, forthe purpose of elongating the loops formed by said predetermined groupsof sinkers.

2. In combination, with a at knittino ma; chine having a rotary shaft, abank o needles, a bank of sinkers adjacent said needles, means forlaying a thread between the needles and the sinkers, 'means for holdingsaid needles in a predetermined position, a sinker cam for moving saidsinkers toward said needles to form said thread into loops of uniformlength between adjacent needles while in said predetermined position; alever pivotally mounted adjacent saidshaft and adapted to be operativelyconnected to said needle holding means, a pair of relatively spacedprojections on said lever, a pair of relatively spaced rollers carriedby said shaft and adapted to engage said projections respectively andsuccessively to move said needles toward said sinkers as the said sinkercam is advancing predetermined groups of said sinkers toward saidneedles, for the purpose of elongating the loops formed by saidpredetermined groups of sinkers.

3. In combination, with a at knitting machine having a rota shaft, abank of needles, a bank of sinkers adjacent said needles, means forlaying a thread between the needles and the sinkers, means for holdingsaid needles 1n a predetermined position, a sinker cam for moving saidsinkers toward said needles to form said thread into loops of uniformlength between adjacent needles while in said predetermined position; alever pivotally mounted adjacent said shaft and adapted to beoperatively connected to said needle holdlng means, a pair of relativelyspaced projections on said lever, a pair of relatively spaced rollerscarried by said shaft and adapted to engage said projectionsrespectively and successively to move said needles toward sald sinkersas the said sinker cam is advancing predetermined groups of said sinkerstoward said needles, for the purpose of elongating the loops formed bysaid predetermined groups of sinkers, and means for changing thepositions of said projections relative to said lever, whereby the timingof the advancing movements of said needles may be varied to coincidewith the advancing movements of different predetermined groups of saidsinkers.

4. In combination, with a iiat knitting machine having a rotary shaft,abank of needles, a bank of sinkers adjacent said needles, means forlaying a thread between the needles and

